After a while, Holden broke the silence.
âWhat exactly is this experiment?â Holden asked, wearing a serious expression.
âFor over two decades, Moss has been conducting biological experiments here,â Bennett explained solemnly.
âHe aims to defy death, bringing the dead back to life.
Itâs audacious and controversial, challenging the limits of science.
â
Holden frowned, a bit stunned.
âIs he mad?â
âNo.
â Bennett shook his head.
âI used to think so, but he seems more rational than anyone else.
â
Holden was puzzled by Bennettâs peculiar standard of sanity.
Suddenly, Bennett rose from his seat.
âCome with me,â he said to Holden.
Together, they made their way to the sixth basement level.
The sixth floor underground wasnât much different from the first.
Both were packed with labs big and small.
Bennett led Holden through the pitch-black darkness, where even their shadows disappeared.
The only sound was the slow, steady echo of their footsteps.
While Holden wondered where they were headed, Bennett pushed open the door to the last room and stepped inside without a second thought.
Holden slowly lifted his gaze, seeing an ice-cold chamber.
Through a giant glass window, he could see an enormous ice coffin, containing a stunning woman.
Various gadgets surrounded her.
âSheâs been dead for over two decades now,â Bennett said as he stared at the glass.
âBut peopleâs faces deteriorate after a few days after death.
Howâs hers still so perfect after all these years?â Holden asked in amazement.
âYouâre right.
â Bennett nodded, sounding a bit resigned.
âMoss has gone to extreme lengths to keep her looking just like she did when she was alive.
â
It must have taken a tremendous amount of effort and time to keep a dead personâs face like this.
Moss, who didnât bat an eye at his nephewâs injuries, clearly had a deep love for this woman.
Their bond was definitely special.
Holden mulled it over before asking if they used to be lovers.
Bennett answered, âSheâs the one Moss loved the most-Emilia Valdez.
Heâs so in love with her that heâd rather make his own reality than face the truth that sheâs gone.
â
âEmilia Valdez?â Holden repeated the name, furrowing his brow.
The name sounded familiar like he had heard it before.
He searched his memory, but it remained a blur.
Realizing Moss planned to turn Ariana into a lab rat, Holden quickly shifted his focus.
Glancing at the woman in the ice coffin, he asked, âWhatâs Mossâ crazy experiment about?â
âHe wants to bring Emilia back to life,â Bennett replied.